Page 28 of Crave

“See, it’s official. This election dictates that Dee has to go out with you, Jake.” Ebony and Jake reach across the table and high five each other.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.” Everyone boos at Sandy, but she just smirks at them.

“Sandy, just give the idiot a few hours of your time. You have no idea how he can be.” JD takes a sip of his beer.

“Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea.”

“Okay, so I had a moment that first night we met.” I look around the table. “Believe me, my brother is an asshole. He had it coming.”

“I know what you mean. My brother can be a total dick sometimes.” The birthday girl hiccups as she takes another large sip of her drink.

“You mean my husband?” Tash chimes in. “Totally untrue, by the way.” She turns her dark eyes back to me. “You know I met your brother once. He didn’t seem like an asshole to me.”

“You know what? It doesn’t matter. We came here to celebrate Diana’s birthday, not to delve into Clark family drama. It’s not our business. And we don’t need a man to pay for our night out, ladies. We can afford to pay our own way.”

“You’re right. We don’tneedhim to pay, but fuck that shit, Dee. It would be rude to turn down such a generous offer. And I want to know what this asshole brother did to our good friend Jake. We can all go over to his house right now and kick his ass.” I try not to laugh at what Diana just said, but I can’t help myself.

“Please. I don’t want your fiancé holding me responsible when he has to bail you out of jail tomorrow,” I say to the table. All the ladies start to laugh when I make that announcement.

“She wears that thing when she doesn’t want to be hit on. It’s a cubic zirconia.”

“I’m single and ready to mingle, Dr. JD,” Diana says as she wiggles her eyebrows and shakes her boobs at the table. “Are you a gynecologist? I can use a check-up.”

Sandy spits out her drink and I rub between her shoulder blades as the rest of the table erupts in laughter. Even JD snickers as he sips his beer.

“Haven’t heard that one this week,” he says.

Before I can jump in and say anything, the waiter comes back with several appetizers.

We eat, the girls order more drinks, and Sandy relaxes more with every sip. She surrenders her hand to mine underneath the table as we eat. The more Diana and Ebony drink, the louder they get.

It doesn’t skip my notice that Tash spends most of the night studying me and Sandy. She chimes into the conversation with JD and the other girls, but she has her eyes on me and her sister the entire time. Her eyes catch mine several times during the dinner, and each time she smiles. At one point, she gives me a conspiring wink as she discretely raises her glass to me.

“Are we having dessert, ladies?” JD asks.

“No, Sandy baked me a birthday cake. We’re all going back to her place after.” I look up at Sandy for confirmation, and an invitation, but all she does is sip her drink.

“Yeah? I love cake,” JD announces.

“Then you two should come. Sandy and I are neighbors, so you can meet my husband.”

Sandy turns her head, her incredulous gaze on Tash, whose only response is to smile.

“We’d love to,” JD answers for the both of us.

“But not before we dance. Dr. JD, you dance? You think you can handle three women at once?” Ebony’s already getting up from the table and pulling Diana out of her seat.

“I think I can handle three at once.” JD gets up and follows the ladies to the dance floor, where a crowd has already gathered in front of the band.

“I like your sister and friends.” I turn my face back towards Sandy.

“They’re pretty awesome.” She falls silent and refuses to look at me.

“I like you too.”

“Stop.” She rolls her eyes.

“I do.”

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